Julie's Journal : A Day in the Life of a Librarian

I'm ashamed to say that, as a student, I never considered becoming a Librarian as a career choice.  It just didn't occur to me.  If I had thought about it, even a little, I might have seen how perfect a career it would be for me.  When I did come into Librarianship, starting out in part-time work and moving into the Assistant Director's position, it quickly became clear how perfect a job it is for me.  

If you've ever taken personality tests, you will know how many different categories people can be sorted into.  One distinction that I find very interesting is that people, especially in the job market, are often sorted into Specialists and Generalists.  A Specialist is someone who becomes an expert in their field, sometimes even a very narrow area within their field.  They can be very good at what they do, but don't often venture beyond the borders of their expertise.  A Generalist on the other hand is someone who's interests vary widely.  They don't necessarily become experts in any one field, but can function well across many different types of work in many different areas.  Both types of people make valuable contributions to a workplace.  

It should come as a surprise to no one that I function well as a Generalist.  When I was studying accounting in college and interning during the summers, I learned that I became bored very quickly.  I still like accounting and business, but I don't want my work life to be solely focused on that.  At the library, I can do all kinds of different things within the course of a week, and sometimes within a single day.  Anything that I am interested in can be relevant at the library.

Over the course of the last few days, here are a few things I have done....

• 
  Taught a one week seminar on Digital Living for Seniors.  This class is geared towards Senior Adults and gives information about the myriad of different ways that technology can be helpful in daily life.  I will try to offer it again early next year.
  

• Taught Kid Crochet.  I've been doing this for several years now and am always delighted by the interest it gets.  We've just started up again for this year and I have several students brand new to crochet.  They are just learning their first chain and single crochet stitches.  Another student has started learning the granny square and still another is making her first stuffed animal.  One student's mother is also interested in learning, so as I have time, I am showing her the basics as well.  
  

• 
  I had a nice conversation with a gentleman just getting into raising chickens.  I've had chickens for years, so it's nice when that hobby bleeds into the library.

• Attended the monthly meeting of our Plot Twist Book Club.  We discussed non-fiction.  Next month's topic is fantasy.
  

• Made many, many book recommendations.  I do this across all areas of the library, but in conjunction with next month's book club topic, I was asked yesterday for several fantasy recommendations.  My go-to's are anything by T. Kingfisher and assorted fairy-tale retellings!

• Shopped for books!  Always a fun chore - I make recommendations to Lisa for books to purchase for our collection and I am in charge of maintaining our e-book collection for Libby.
  

• Offered tech help to patrons.  You can make an appointment with me or any library staff for help with your phone or tablet or laptop.  This week I have helped with organizing email, setting up new earbuds, figuring out why an iPad wasn't working, and connecting a phone to a vehicle via bluetooth.

• Held a newborn baby while her mother wrangled her three siblings.  This was both duty and pleasure!

• 
  Helped with patrons needing to print.  So much printing!
  

• Facilitated our Creative Hands program.  We meet weekly and people bring whatever project they are working on.  We visit and help one another with our projects.

• Attended virtual trainings on a variety of topics from the Association for Rural and Small Libraries.

And the thing is - we all do these things and more.  Lisa is our director.  She keeps us within the lines of our budget, plans programs, purchases books and materials, sees to the building maintenance needs, and so much more.  Christian and Jeltje are our front line staff.  They check people in and out, reshelve materials, and make sure the library shelves are neat and organized.  They keep up with what patrons are checking out and make purchase recommendations based on that information.  Christian makes library cards for new patrons, keeps our plants alive, and makes sure our bulletin board and outside sign are up to date and looking good.  Jeltje puts new books in the system (a never ending chore), makes sure we have a new dad joke for the globe every week, and comes up with new ideas for programming and promotion.

It takes us all to keep the library running and in good shape.  Come in and see all the things we have to offer!

Julie's Journal : What I've Been Reading (plus our Puzzle Exchange)

Lately, I've been cursed with an overabundance of books to read and not enough time to finish them all.  I currently have 32 books on hold on Libby.  I need to clear some out, but I'm always finding new stuff I want to read and add to it!  

I've been on a bit of a T. Kingfisher kick lately.  I've always liked her stuff, but earlier this year I read The Wizard's Guide to Defensive Baking and recommended it to everybody.  It's so fun.  One of the characters, Bob, is a sentient sour dough starter with personality!  I followed it up with Minor Mage, Illuminations, and Nine Goblins.  All are short, magical stories that I really enjoyed.  Next on my list by her is A Sorceress Comes to Call.  It is a retelling of the Goose Girl fairytale.

Another science fiction book I read recently was The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin.  This was on the New York Times list of the best 100 books of the 21st century, and I had only read a few from the list.  This is a very different book, and it took me a little while to figure out the timeline.  I may read the rest in the series, (I have the second one on hold on Libby), but it's pretty involved so I may have to be in the right mood for it.

The Last Flight by Julie Clark was recommended in our Plot Twist Book Club.  It tells the story of two women who are both looking to change their lives.  One is running from a powerful and abusive husband.  The other has gotten caught up in an illegal lifestyle and wants to leave it.  They switch plane tickets at the last minute and the repercussions are huge.  I marked this as one of the best books I've read this year! 

Another author whose books I try to always read is Heather Webber.  Her latest, In the Middle of Hickory Lane, was very enjoyable.  Emme has moved to live near her father's family and try to put down roots for the first time in her life.  Her cousin Cora Bee is dealing with some demons of her own, and their grandmother, Glory, is beginning to struggle with her health.  All three women have to come to terms with their pasts in order to move forward in life.  I love the subtle magical element all of Heather Webber's books include.  In my opinion, this is one of her better books.

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Did you know that Franklin County Library has a puzzle exchange?  Bring a puzzle, leave a puzzle!  We had two big donations last week, so there are plenty to choose from!

Julie's Journal : What I've Been Reading Plus Some of My TBR

Right now, I'm reading Dark Corners by Megan Goldin.  This is the third book by this author that I have read and the second featuring podcaster, Rachel Krall.  Rachel has developed a reputation as a reporter/investigator who can prove the innocence of those wrongly convicted.  Now she's delving into the behind-the-scenes world of influencers.  A girl is missing and Rachel may be the next target of a serial killer.  So far it's living up to the hype!

I just finished The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon and I highly recommend it.  It's already on my list of favorites for this year.  It is the fictionalized story of real-life 18th century midwife Martha Ballard.  The story takes place in Maine, over the course of one brutal winter.  It contains difficult topics including sexual assault, child loss, and the powerlessness of women during this time period, but still manages to stay hopeful.  I loved the depiction of the marriage between Martha and her husband Ephraim.

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman is another book I finished recently.  Nina is an introvert with very little family.  She has built a life she loves working in a small bookstore and going to trivia nights with her team.  Her world gets turned upside down when she learns that the father she never knew has named her in his will.  Along with an inheritance, she also learns that she has brothers and sisters and nieces and nephews and some of them want to welcome her to the family.  Further complicating her simple life is a budding new romance with the leader of a rival trivia team and the financial difficulties that make the survival of the bookstore questionable.  Nina must overcome her anxiety to let some new things and people into her life.  The book was a little predictable, but it was a sweet, quick read.

For awhile I have been eyeing The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See, and I finally picked it up.  It is set on the island of Jeju in the Korea Straight.  Women on the island have been making a living diving into the ocean for generations.  Young-sook is our main character and she and her friend Mi-ja are taking their place in the diving collective.  Young-sook and Mi-ja are young during the years of Japanese colonialism and Mi-ja is somewhat ostracized because her father was a Japanese collaborator.  Over the years, they marry and have families, but a betrayal rips their friendship apart.  I was interested in the book because I had heard of the diving women, but this book focuses not just on the women but the greater political affairs that were affecting their island.  We follow them through WWII and the Korean war, all the way to current times.  I realized that my knowledge of Asian history is lacking.  This was a difficult book.  The women and their families go through horrors that I can't imagine.  

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Last year, I started keeping a notebook of books I want to read that either aren't available to me right now or I just don't have time for.  When I run out of things to read, I consult the book to see if I can get anything on the list.  I've found it to be a lot of fun and helpful as well.  

Right now on my To-Be-Read (TBR) list, in addition to books in my notebook, are several physical books that have been given to me lately.  I tend to read e-books more than physical books, so I need to put down my devices and concentrate on these books.  Right now I have copies of The Fury by Alex Michaelides, Just Another Missing Person by Gillian McAllister, and two books by a new-to-me author, Will Dean.  I'm assured that Dean does twists in his stories very well.  I'm excited to pick one of these up for my next read!  

Julie's Journal : What I've Been Reading

I have a few recommendations today and one book that I really did NOT like!

Going Zero, by Anthony McCarten.  This was the last book I read in 2023 and I have been recommending it ever since.  Kaitlyn Day is a contestant in a game, hoping to win $3,000,000.  She must stay undetected, off grid and under the radar, for 30 days, while Fusion, a giant tech company, is hunting her and 9 other contestants.  Fusion has a lot riding on the outcome of the contest - if they can find all the participants they will secure an enormous government contract.  But Kaitlyn has more at stake than the prize money and she will be a more formidable opponent than Fusion realizes.    

The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, by Shannon Chakraborty.  Amina is a middle-aged mother, and a retired pirate.  She has no plans to venture back onto the high seas, until the mother of one of her former crew members comes calling.  She offers Amina an enormous sum to bring back her kidnapped granddaughter.  Amina agrees, but quickly discovers that not all is as it seems, and this adventure may be more than she bargained for.  This fantasy kept my attention with lots of action and humor.

The Measure, by Nikki Erlick.  One morning, everyone in the world, aged 22 and above, receives a box.  Inside the box is a string.  The strings are of all different lengths, and it quickly becomes clear that the string represents the length of the owner's life.  The story follows the lives of several different people, some with long strings and some with short strings.  Through their stories, we see how the very fabric of society is changed by people's knowledge of the length of their life.  New biases appear overnight.  People are suddenly ineligible for certain positions of power if they have a short string.  I liked this book.  Some library patrons thought there were too many characters to keep up with, but I found the story thought provoking.

Starter Villain, by John Scalzi.  This was fun.  Charlie is between jobs and in a pseudo-fight with his half-siblings over his father's house, which he has been living in.  When his estranged uncle passes away without any heirs, he is asked to represent the family at the funeral.  The funeral quickly turns weird when an assortment of characters turn up all wanting to verify that Uncle Jake is in fact actually dead.  Things just get crazier from there as Charlie discovers he is his uncle's heir and he has inherited more than just a family business.  I know people are going to look sideways at me for recommending this one, but I thought it was a fun, quick read.

Prisoners of the Castle, by Ben Macintyre.  Non-fiction.  I had never heard of the Nazi prison at Colditz.  Colditz is a castle and town in eastern Germany and was used to house prisoners of war who had attempted to escape from other prisons or camps.  It housed Dutch, French, Belgian, Polish, and later a few American prisoners.  Immediately on arrival, many of the prisoners started trying to escape again.  There were a number of obstacles to escaping from Colditz, but no shortage of inventive ways to try.  The prisoners quickly formed a society of sorts in the prison, in large part based on the class systems they were used to in military life.  I had never read about this part of WWII before and it was very interesting.

And now for the book I did NOT like.....

Vaster Wilds, by Lauren Groff.  The synopsis of this book sounded interesting.  A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement and attempts to find another colony to settle in.  And truly, the book delivers on that premise for awhile.  She is wandering through the wilderness surviving with just her wits and a few small things she was able to bring with her.  But.....  I won't tell you what spoiled the book for me, but by the end I wanted to throw it at the wall!  It's been quite a long time since a book has made me that mad!  If you read it, let me know what you think.

Julie's Journal : Franklin County Library Patron Favorites 2023

What items have you guys been checking out most often this year?  This year, I have only two categories - Books and DVDs.  Let's dive in! 

Books:

    1.  The Boys from Biloxi, by John Grisham

    2.  Simply Lies, by David Baldacci

    3.  The Thursday Murder Club, by Richard Osman - I think this one owes its         popularity to Jeltje who recommends it every chance she gets!

    4.  Zootopia, by Alessandro Ferrari

    5.  Verity, by Colleen Hoover - Collen Hoover had 12 of the top 15 titles                in Paperback Fiction!

    6.  The House of Wolves, by James Patterson

    7.  Going Rogue - Rise and Shine Twenty-Nine, by Janet Evanovich - The             next title in this series, Dirty Thirty, was recently released.

    8.  Dog Man Unleased, by Dav Pilkey

    9.  Sisters, by Raina Telgemeier

  10.  Dog Man and Cat Kid, by Dav Pilkey

DVDs:

    1.  Soul Surfer - This one surprised me as it has been on library shelves for             12 years!  It was our most checked out item this year!

    2.  Halloween

    3.  Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile

    4.  Avatar : The Way of Water

    5.  Strange World

    6.  Mamma Mia : Here We Go Again

    7.  Mamma Mia!

    8.  Jurassic World Dominion - I haven't seen all the different Jurassic Park              movies, but I enjoyed this one!

    9.  Joe Picket : Season 1

  10.  Turning Red

Julie's Journal : What I've Been Reading

2022 was a horrible reading year for me.  I read about half the number of books I usually do, and about half of those were re-reads.  I couldn't get in the mood for a good reading binge and I had a hard time finding new titles.  I wanted to change that this year, so I put out a request on Facebook for book recommendations and have paid closer attention to recommendations I've seen online.  So far this year I've read several new-to-me authors and some really good books!

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow, by Gabrielle Zevin

Sadie and Sam meet at a children's hospital where Sam is a patient and where Sadie is visiting her sick sister.  Their friendship blossoms over a shared love of video games, but as will come to characterize their relationship, a misunderstanding separates them.  When they meet again, by chance, in college they begin to create video games together.  Eventually, with Sam's roommate, they form the company that will make them rich and define their lives.  

This book is long, spanning nearly 30 years.  As someone who enjoys video games, I enjoyed the gaming industry being the backdrop for the story.  I enjoyed the descriptions of games I know and love as well as the fictional games Sam and Sadie created.  Some of them I wished I could play!  The book is not just about the games, though, but about the many relationships that are formed as people come in and out of Sam and Sadie's lives. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow is a book that I was able to get completely immersed in.

Hench, by Natalie Zina Walschots

The world of this book is very similar to ours, but it is populated by both Superheroes and Supervillains who are constantly fighting each other and amongst themselves for dominance.  Both heroes and villains need infrastructure though, and have corporate offices to manage their affairs.  Anna is a data analyst just trying to make a living.  When the Supervillain she works for wants her to be a background prop at a press conference, Anna goes along.  However, a Superhero crashes the party and in the ensuing chaos, Anna is badly hurt.  As she recuperates, Anna starts running a new data analysis - this time of the collateral damage done by Superheroes in the course of their heroic deeds.  She starts a blog detailing her findings which brings her to the attention of the biggest Supervillain of all.  

I liked this story and the unique world that the author created.  It was long, and detailed, but I enjoyed it all the way through.

The Invincible Miss Cust, by Penny Haw

This book is fiction, based very closely on the real-life story of Aleen Cust, the first female veterinarian in Ireland and England.  When Aleen is born in 1868 it is unheard of for an aristocratic woman to have a career outside of the home.  Aleen, however, knew from a young age that she wanted to be a veterinarian.  She faced enormous obstacles from her own family who were scandalized by her ambitions, society at large, and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.  Only after her brother died and left her an unencumbered inheritance was she able to attend Veterinary College.  She completed her studies with honors in 1897, but her trials were far from over.

I especially enjoyed the afterward included by the author that detailed the ways in which the fictionalized version differentiated from the historical record of Miss Cust's life.  The story stays very true to the historical events, and for me was quite infuriating.  I am so thankful that I don't live in a time where I might have to fight to pursue my chosen career.

Tamar, by Mal Peet

I just finished this spy romance set against the backdrop of the Dutch Winter of Hunger during WWII, an event I knew nothing about.  The story is told in a dual time-line with the majority of it being during 1944-45.  The other part is told from the point of view of the granddaughter of the main characters in 1995.  Tamar is part of the Dutch Resistance and is based on a farm in the countryside.  He and the daughter of the farm, Marijke, are a couple, although they do not tell Tamar's partner Dart.  In 1995, 15 year old Tamar, named after her grandfather, is trying to put together the mystery of her family's past and what she discovers is a betrayal of the worst kind.

I enjoyed the story and I ended up researching information about the Dutch Winter of Hunger which was an aspect of WWII I wasn't aware of.  I couldn't help but wish for a different ending to the story though and I was dissatisfied with the way all the loose ends were tied up.  In spite of that, though,  I would still very much recommend it.

I read all of these on Libby, the library's e-reading app.  If you need help getting started with Libby, just give us a call.  The Invincible Miss Cust is available as a physical book for checkout from FCL as well.

I have several more lined up to read as soon as they become available on Libby.  Next are Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey, Alone, by Megan Freeman, Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, All Creatures Great and Small, by James Herriot, and All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doeer.  Keep those recommendations coming.  I'm hoping for a much better reading year in 2023!

A Vacay from our Staycay and ALWAYS, ALWAYS book shopping!, by Lisa Lawrence

My daughter, Emily and I took a couple of days away from our staycation last week and went to the Dallas Arboretum. If you haven’t been GO!  Go while the fall displays and the pumpkin village are up.  IT’S AMAZING. Anyway, of course, we had to visit the giftshop. Me being... me, I found the books right away and took pictures of ones I thought we could use in the library. Yes, I am that person! (I know I should buy them from the Arboretum! Sorry! They are cheaper elsewhere!) So, they came in today from “Elsewhere.”

Hydrangeas: Beautiful Varieties for Home and Garden by author Naomi Slade and photographer Georgianna Lane. Lane’s photos speak volumes alone but Slade’s information on the cultivation, design, use as houseplants and gifts of these beautiful garden gems is incredible.  Hydrangeas are one of my favorites and I will definitely be using this as a resource. It would make a beautiful coffee table book also.

Taming the Potted Beast: The Strange and Sensational History of the Not-So-Humble Houseplant by Molly Williams.  The title caught my attention first. I thumbed through the interesting history of ancient houseplants to find advise and tips on growing my own indoor plants.  I have a slight addiction (the husband calls it an obsession) with houseplants so I know this will be on my list to read and reference.

I’m also a sucker for children’s books. I have to really watch that I don’t fill the library with picture books.  I found three children’s picture books in the giftshop but again they came from “Elsewhere.”

The Bug on the Rug by Sophia Gholz and illustrated by Susan Batori is one of the cutest picture books I have seen in a long while.  The pug, bug, and slug all learn to share the rug.  This will definitely be on my list for Story Time!

F is for Feather: A Bird Alphabet (Science Alphabet) by Helen Wilbur and illustrated by Andy Atkins is a wonderful book for children, as well, as adults. The information on birds and the aspects of their lives from feeding to migration and beyond is a must for anyone interested in nature.

And last but certainly not least, A Parliament of Owls by author Devin Scillian and illustrator Sam Caldwell.  This beautifully written book cleverly dives into the plural of animals.  This is a fun, informative book that old and young will enjoy.    A shiver of sharks, a tower of giraffes, and a Parliament of Owls led to a discussion among library staff about the unusual plurals of other creatures.  Here is a link for other animal plurals you might not know.

https://arapahoelibraries.org/blogs/post/names-for-groups-of-animals/

I hope you enjoy these books from our vacay from our staycay, delivered from “Elsewhere”.

Julie's Journal : Catching Up!

Since I haven't posted anything in awhile, I thought I'd do a catch up with a few pictures from some events and activities this spring.  

Our kid's crochet group has continued all spring.  Several of the girls are finishing up projects.  Here, Addison has a completed scarf and Gianna has finished a tie for her hair.  We also have Octopus toys in progress, as well as scrunchies, scarves, and bags.  

Marvelous Mondays has been going strong.  We just have a few sessions left before the end of the school year.  Here we have learned a trick for balancing 11 nails on the head of just one nail.  I also showed the kids this tilting maze.  They had to manipulate a metal ball through the maze without falling in a hole.  It is very tricky!

Lisa has refreshed the front of the building for spring.  Doesn't it look nice?  The hydrangeas have really bloomed out beautifully this week.

We've also been having fun this spring with a new-to-us event... Storytime!  Once a month Lisa is reading books to kids ages 2-5 and following them with a craft.  Next Tuesday, May 10, at 10:00 is the next session, so be sure to bring your pre-school aged kiddos.

This week, we have been working on putting new books on the shelves.  Getting new books is quite an involved process.  We have to enter the books into our system, then print and apply stickers with both the barcode and spine information.  We have to stamp each book with our identifying information and then if the book is a hardcover with a dust jacket, we have to wrap the dust jacket in plastic for protection.  Learning to wrap books is one of the first things I teach new hires to do!  Here Jeltje is wrapping new non-fiction books.  See the cart behind her full of new books to be processed?

The Community Tiny Art Project has been a big success.  We will have all the submissions displayed through the month of May.  The projects are quite diverse and we have enjoyed seeing how creative our community is.

We have also had good turn-outs all spring at Creative Hands - our craft group for adults, Movies with Friends, and the Circle of Friends book club.  We are gearing up now for Summer Reading and other summer activities.  Be sure and look for our Calendar of Events at the front desk.  We have something for everyone!

Staff Picks : Julie

 Julie's February Picks

The Speckled Beauty, by Rick Bragg  Speck is a very bad dog who comes into the author's life at just the right time.  Rick is dealing with a cancer diagnosis and failing health and is living with his mother.  Speck is a rescue dog who has been on his own for a long time.  He has to learn how to live with people again, and doesn't necessarily do a good job of it.  I always enjoy this author's books.  His short, southern writings have the perfect mix of humor and heart.

The Ride of Her Life, by Elizabeth Letts  This is the true story of Annie Wilkins.  It is 1954 and Annie is 63 years old, alone and flat broke.  She has been told she doesn't have a lot of time left to live and she decides that she wants to fulfill a dream of both herself and her late mother.  She wants to see California and the Pacific Ocean.  The problem is that she is in Maine, where she has lived her entire life.  To the surprise of everyone she has ever known, she takes what little money she has and buys a horse.  After packing up supplies for the journey, she sets off with only her little dog for company.  It takes more than a year, but Annie finally reaches her destination.  Along the way she meets a host of hospitable people who help her and in the process she becomes a little bit famous.    

Oona Out of Order, by Margarita Montimore  I like stories that explore the concept of time.  Oona is 18 in 1982.  It is New Year's Eve and she is on the cusp of some big decisions about her future.  When the clock strikes midnight she faints, and when she wakes up it is New Year's Day - her birthday.  But it is not 1983.  It is 2015 and she is in her 51 year old body, but her mind is still 19.  She discovers that every year as the year turns she travels to a different time.  While her mind ages normally, she never knows what year she will end up in. She experiences her life completely out of order.  One year she is already married, the next year she experiences meeting her husband for the first time.  It sounds confusing, but I was quickly able to jump into the story.  I enjoyed it.  

Staff Picks : Lisa

Lisa’s Lists

Children’s Books

 

I have a confession. 

Picture books and children’s books are my favorite.  When I go book shopping I have to limit my time in the children’s section or I tend to get into trouble. I have SO many favorite authors it’s impossible to list them all. Of course, Jan Brett, Shel Silverstein, Beatrix Potter, Eric Carle, Dr. Seuss, John R. Erickson, Bill Martin, Jr., Maurice Sendak, E.B. White, Kate DiCamillo, and A.A. Milne are forever on my list of recommended reads.

Others that I have added to that list are:

 

 

Ryan T. Higgins - Mother Bruce series. Bruce is a grumpy bear who finds himself in all sorts of unwelcome situations, mostly of his own making.   These laugh-out-loud stories come to life with the rich illustrations. FC Library has the following books in the Mother Bruce Series: The Bruce Swap, Bruce’s Big Move, Bruce’s Big Storm, Hotel Bruce, Mother Bruce, and Santa Bruce.

 

The Fan Brothers (Terry and Eric) - It Fell from the Sky. Something fell from the sky but none of the insects know what it is or where it came from. Spider, convinced it belongs to him, puts it on display for all the insect world to see. Things don’t turn out how he planned, as things rarely do, but lessons are learned and the insect community is stronger in the end because of the thing that fell from the sky.  Other books by the Fan Brothers available at FC Library: The Barnabus Project, The Night Gardener, and Ocean Meets Sky.  

 David Ezra Stein - Interrupting Chicken. Papa attempts to read Chicken a bedtime story but Chicken keeps interrupting. Over and over. Then Papa asks Chicken to read him a story instead. It doesn’t take long before someone is sound asleep.   Also enjoy, Interrupting Chicken and the Elephant of Surprise by Stein at FC Library. 

Audrey Wood - The Napping House. A cozy bed, a granny, a child, and a menagerie of other sleepy critters all pile up to take a nap.  This is a fun story with a seek-and-find for the tiny culprit that causes the whole bunch to topple to the floor. The illustrations are amazingly created by Don Wood.  The Full Moon at the Napping House is also available at FC Library.

I hope you check out some of my favorite books from our children’s collection. Who knows maybe they will become your favorites too.

Julie's Journal : Naomi Novik

It's been awhile, but sometimes I like to profile an author whose books I've really enjoyed.  This one may be a little out there for those of you who read this blog regularly.  Naomi Novik is a fantasy writer whose stories are rooted in fairy tales and magical myths.  I first discovered her several years ago when I read her stand-alone novel Uprooted, and it remains my favorite of her work.  

Uprooted is the story of Agnieszka.  She lives in a small village in a valley next to a malevolent Wood.  She is chosen to live with the Dragon, the wizard who keeps the Wood at bay.  He discovers in her an affinity for magic, although they clash regularly about the different methods they use to wield their power.  Eventually the Wood must be dealt with permanently if the valley and the entire kingdom are to survive.  I love the feel of this book.  Agnieszka is untidy and clumsy and practical and her magic is similar.  The Dragon is precise and ordered and wants his magic to work the same way.  Reading about them figuring each other out and how to work together is fun.     

More recently, I have been reading Novik's dark Scholomance
series.  I wasn't familiar with the legend of Romania's school of black magic called Scholomance, but Novik takes a few elements of her story from it.  In the first book, A Deadly Education, El is in her junior year.  In this world, young wizards are constantly being attacked by malefeceria, monsters that want to eat them for their mana.  Mana is the magical energy that all sorcerers use.  The school gives the students a 1 in 4 chance of surviving to adulthood (much improved over the odds outside the school) where they are much better prepared to protect themselves.  El's great-grandmother prophesied that she would become a great dark wizard and destroy the world and El is determined not to fulfill the prophecy.  I like El because she is grumpy and surly and unfriendly, but still determined to do the right thing, even to her own detriment.  I finished the second book, The Last Graduate, this week and the ending was SHOCKING!  Now I have to wait an eternity for the last book in the series to be released.  

Novik's older series, Temeraire, is an alternate history of the Napoleonic Wars.  Now, to be honest, I didn't read this series for a long time even though I had enjoyed her other work because I just wasn't really interested in the Napoleonic Wars.  I still have only read the first two in the series, but I enjoyed them very much.  The story follows a British ship captain, William Laurence.  When he captures another ship, he finds on board a dragon's egg very close to hatching.  When a dragon hatches, whoever it accepts a harness from becomes its handler.  Of course, to his dismay, Captain Laurence is chosen. He names the dragon Temeraire and must leave his ship and report to a training camp to learn how to become a handler.  The first book, His Majesty's Dragon, follows their training and their first battle.  After the battle, it is revealed that Temeraire is in fact a Celestial dragon.  His egg was a gift from China to France and China is not very happy that he was intercepted.  The second book, Throne of Jade, follows them as they travel to China and learn about Temeraire's origins.  

Novik's other stand-alone novel, Spinning Silver, is not my favorite, although from the reviews on Goodreads, I am in the minority.  It is a loose play on the fairy tale of Rumpelstiltskin.  When Miryem has some success in business she brags that she can turn silver into gold.  Unfortunately her boast is overheard by fae and she is forced to marry their king.  As I said, I didn't particularly enjoy this book so my memory on the details is fuzzy.  Since I have enjoyed all of Novik's other work, I may need to revisit it soon and see if it improves for me on a second reading.